2016 Topic 5:Art Dolls {Challenge}

 2016 Topic 5: Art Dolls

PAGG by Jo Firth Young

Well hello everyone, Darcy here (covering for Leandra this topic) with an intro to our latest topic, Art Dolls. How do these differ from regular dolls? Well Art Dolls are not considered to be toys but rather they are works of art. Just like all art, they are made in a wide variety of styles, with all kinds of skill and media. The techniques employed include carving, sculpting, painting and sewing. Using everything from paper and fabric to clay, wood and metals. Generally these dolls are handmade and more often than not each one is a unique creation. 

Before we start, let's see who won the Topic 4: Image Transfers Challenge...

Thankyou for all your excellent transfer entries, despite our blog downtime we still managed to inspire you into action. it was good to see you trying out several of the different mediums and techniques. I hope you will continue to experiment with transfers. 

The winner of Image Transfers is: Christine from Craftyfield

Email Darcy to claim your prize. Darcydotneedles@hotmail.com

I am sure at some point you have all made paper dolls and created clothes for them, or maybe you made dolls from wooden clothes pegs? How about recreating those childhood memories in an art journal? or perhaps you have a fabric stash just crying out to be transformed. There are so many fabric doll patterns out there. What about stampbord, or shrink plastic with dangly bits attached? A really great substrate is air drying clay or paper clay, readily available and so easy to use. 

Starting with paper dolls, you can use stamps to create your doll and then make an art journal page, or perhaps add your doll to a tag. We have some fabulous stamps that would be perfect for this, including this brand new Hot Picks stamp. 

HP1604

How about looking through our Lynne Perrella collection, these make for some really interesting and vintage art dolls. Just like this one from Lynne Moncrieff using LPC029

Our Ink and the Dog collections are jam packed full of interesting images that could be used as body parts; why not get creative with clocks as a head or body, sentiments as limbs and don't forget we have lots of wings that always look great on art dolls.

Clay is a great substrate, whether lightweight paper clay or the heavier air drying version, this is so versatile. You really can let your imagination run wild.

Gertie by Tracy Easson

Art Doll Assemblages are probably the most fun of all, they can be made from literally anything. What is the bet that you have bits and pieces laying around the house that you could transform into something like this.

Jeanette Janson

or this fabulous trio by Julie Ann Lee

These ones incorporate polymer clay and found objects, they were created by Gillian Allen. 

Lisa Renner has the most fabulous polymer clay and assemblage dolls on her site.

We all have wooden spoons right? why not give yours a little character just like Kate Crane did with hers.

You could of course just alter an old doll such as a Barbie, just like I did here. 

Fabric dolls can be as simple or as complicated as you wish, use patterned fabrics or go all out and paint your whole doll. I love this arty one from Guada Brizuela Cabal, she even has a little class you can take HERE.

This is an Icicle Doll by Belinda Schneider, so called as she originally made them as Christmas tree ornaments, pop to her blog to find a template.

For something a little more unconventional, check out these beauties by Junker Jane 

Here's a couple of video with 3D and Flat art Doll methods being explained....take a look at this from Spellbinders from 2013, from Linda Peterson

And this from Mystele kerkeeng paper and stitched shows her method in this video..

However you make your own style doll, I bet you'll have fun! We would love to see you getting creative, but don't let that stop you checking out the resources available out there. 

A quick internet search will bring up lots of patterns, they are a great starting place if you have not made dolls before. Stampington and company have a doll magazine called Art Doll Quarterly and there are some fab books to look at too. Some doll authors that Darcy recommends are Jan Horrox, Patti Medaris Culea, Susanna Oroyan and Ray Slater. 

Don't forget to follow Leandra's pinterest page if this topic pushes your buttons, you will see plenty more examples to whet your appetite there! 

We are really looking forward to seeing what you create over the next 2 weeks!

Darcy (& Leandra)

Topic 5: Art Dolls; PaperArtsy Blog Challenge
We'd love you to share your ideas and link up your creative response to our current blog topic. Take a minute to read the challenge guidelines below.

All links go in the draw to win a voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. The Art Dolls link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, March 20th, winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

1. The challenge is a for you to show how you are inspired by the current blog topic.

Your entry should contain:

- a mention of which post inspired you and why, and 

- a link in your blog post to that original post on the PA blog.

The whole concept of this challenge is 'play along with us'. You are encouraged to put your own twist on ideas you see on our blog, do your own thing - whatever grabs you!

2. The link you put on our linky page must lead directly to the specific post on your blog where you have explored the technique/ idea mentioned in point 1 above. Don't link to the home page of your blog.

3. We prefer your challenge blog post is created exclusive to our challenge, but if our topic fits perfectly with another challenge, then you may link to both if appropriate.

4. You are most welcome to use stamps/ products/ substrates you have to hand from a variety of companies, we do not expect you to exclusively use PA products - it's lovely when you do though!

6. You can enter as many times as you like. We don't want to restrict your creativity! 

NB. Link closes at 17:00 Sunday March 20th   (London Time)

7. The winner of the random draw will receive a £50 credit voucher to be redeemed on the PaperArtsy Website. The credit voucher includes VAT and postage. We request that one of your purchases is an A5 rubber stamp. You can add any other items to your basket, but the final total should not exceed £50.

8. Each fortnight on Sunday, the winner will be announced at 19:00 (London time). In the same post, the link for the next fortnight will be posted. 

9. It's your responsibility to claim your prize coupon from Darcy. 

email: darcydotneedles@hotmail.com

Good Luck! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!